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Abstract
In spite of a mostly positive impact of emotional intimacy on sexual desire and satisfaction, emotional merging and the safety and comfort of emotional closeness have been linked with diminished sexual desire. Aiming at a better understanding of the role of intimacy in male sexuality, this paper explored (1) a likely mechanism behind the association between emotional intimacy and sexual satisfaction and (2) whether there is empirical evidence of a negative impact of intimacy on sexual desire. Among 506 heterosexual Croatian men (M = 38.2 years, SD = 8.43) currently living with their partners who participated in a large-scale online survey carried out in 2011, sexual satisfaction was dependent on both intimacy and sexual desire. Emotional intimacy was strongly associated with the partner-centered component of personal sexual satisfaction, pointing to a possible mechanism through which intimacy affects sexual well-being. Despite employing different analytical approaches and controlling for age and the length of intimate relationship, no evidence was found of a negative association between relationship intimacy and male sexual desire. Our study supports the notion that intimacy has an important and positive role in male sexuality.
Note
Notes
1. The cut-off point of five was chosen in accordance with the World Health Organization indicator of child mortality under 5 years of age (World Health Organization, Citation2013); children under 5 years of age require substantially more parental investment than older children.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Aleksandar Štulhofer
Aleksandar Štulhofer is Professor of Sociology and the Head of Sexology Unit at the University of Zagreb, Croatia. Since 2008, he is Affiliated Faculty of the Kinsey Institute for Research in Gender, Sex and Reproduction. His research focuses on sexual health, behavioral aspects of HIV, and pornography use. Dr Štulhofer also works as sex therapist.
Luana Cunha Ferreira
Luana Cunha Ferreira (MSc) is a PhD student in the Interuniversity Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology – Family Psychology and Intervention (Faculty of Psychology, University of Lisbon). She is a licensed clinical psychologist, currently researching intimacy, desire and differentiation of self in couples. She practices individual, couple and family therapy.
Ivan Landripet
Dr. Ivan Landripet is a Senior Teaching and Research Assistant at the Methodology Unit, Department of Sociology, University of Zagreb, Croatia. His research in sexuality focuses on attitudinal and behavioral aspects of sexual health, as well as pornography use.